Chennai: The state wing of the Indian Medical Association said a senior member of TVK from Karaikudi convened a kangaroo-court-style settlement, forcing two doctors accused of medical negligence to pay ₹50 lakh to the patient’s family. At the same time, the case remains pending before the court.A few weeks ago, a 10-year-old boy with phimosis — a condition in which the foreskin cannot be fully retracted over the glans, the rounded head of the penis — underwent circumcision at a hospital in Karaikudi. He developed a complication when the glans turned black after its blood supply was compromised. He was later referred to a doctor in Madurai, where he underwent further surgery to treat the condition. The boy’s parents, who told the media that complications occurred due to “medical negligence”, wrote a letter to the chief minister’s cell.On Thursday, IMA said it had already presented the relevant medical and legal facts to the media. Doctors concerned have approached the court seeking legal protection against allegedly false and misleading media and social media campaigns, a statement from state president Dr B Sridhar, who also practises in Karaikudi, said.The statement said an “influential functionary” of a ruling party from Karaikudi convened a meeting between the parties, following which the doctors were asked to pay a specified amount to the affected family. “We further understand that, although the doctors sought reasonable time to arrange the payment, they were reportedly directed to make the payment immediately, leaving them with little practical choice, and the amount was accordingly paid,” it said. The statement came with pictures and videos of the mediation by the TVK functionary with the doctors.IMA action committee chairperson Dr K Prakasam, a co-signatory in the statement, said doctors were forced to transfer money to the family immediately. “It sets a dangerous precedent when the matter is before the court,” he said. “If external pressure becomes a means of securing compensation from doctors, it will create fear among the medical fraternity, discourage doctors from undertaking complex and high-risk cases, and ultimately affect patient care and society at large,” he said.The association said allegations of medical negligence must be determined based on evidence, expert medical opinion and due process—not through protests, social media campaigns or external pressure. “No parallel mechanism should be allowed to override or undermine the established legal process,” the statement said.
